Jack and lock

ABSTRACT

A disconnectably assembled jack and lock combination. A unidirectionally adjustable lock, including a movable tongue having a longitudinal axis, further includes a longitudinally restrained, springloaded means adapted to cooperate with the tongue for checking longitudinal motion thereof in a preselected one of two opposed directions parallel to the longitudinal axis. A jack having a rotatably mounted pinion is adapted to engage the tongue for preselected unidirectional translation in a record of the two opposed directions. The jack and lock are keyed laterally of the longitudinal axis and parallel to the axis rotation of the pinion, whereby the jack and lock may be disconnectably engaged for cooperation.

United States Patent 1191 Dolce 1 Mar. 27, 1973 [54] JACK AND LOCK Primary Examiner-Othell M. Simpson [76] Inventor: Samuel L. Dolce, 1421 North Kirby j Drive, La Habra, Calif. S [22] Filed: June 21, 1971 [571 ABSTRACT [21] App1.No.: 154,912 A disconnectably assembled jack and lock combination. A unidirectionally adjustable lock, including a movable tongue having a longitudinal axis, further inzz'glgg cludes a longitudinally restrained, springloaded means Field o'Searchm254/105m8, adapted to cooperate with the tongue for checking References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,591,140 7 1971 McCoy ..254/66 1,475,065 11/1923 Gilbertson... ..254/66 903,367 11/1908 Fisher ..254/66 902,968 11/1908 Johnson ..254/66 longitudinal motion thereof in a preselected one of two opposed directions parallel to the longitudinal axis. A jack having a rotatably mounted pinion is adapted to engage the tongue for preselected unidirectional translation in a record of the two 0pposed directions. The jack and lock are keyed laterally of the longitudinal axis and parallel to the axis rotation of the pinion, whereby the jack and lock may be disconnectably engaged for cooperation.

8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Patented March 21, 1973 3,722,862

5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR, SAMUEL L. DOLCE Wim ATTORNEY Patented March 27, 1973 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR, SAMUEL L. DOLCE 11 x L k a ATTORNEY Patented March 27, 1973 3,722,862

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR, SAMUEL L. DOLCE L TTORNE Patented March 27, 1973 3,722,862

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNtY INVENTOR, SAMUEL Lv DOLCE.

Patepted March 27, 1973 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR, SAMUEL L. DOLCE JACK AND LOCK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The balanced installation of springs on overhead operated doors such as garage doors and the like is a dangerous and, at best, inconvenient undertaking. As is understood in the art, such springs operate through a suitable mechanical excentric crank arrangement to maintain an opened door in the overhead or opened state, once the door is opened, while the weight of the door as reflected through the rotated crank serves to oppose the spring (on both ends of the door) to remain in the closed or downward position. In other words, a large heavy garage door installation may be effectively controlled by a set of suitably balanced springs.

Because of the use of such springs to balance the installation of a heavy door, such springs themselves are often exceedingly stiff, requiring much force to extend them for installation on the door, wherefore such installation requires the application of much force as to be dangerous in the advent of misapplications of such force and effort.

The replacement of broken garage door springs is a common and periodic occurrence with many homeowners, using springs available for purchase from retail hardware stores and the like. Because such spring replacement is an awkward job requiring much physical effort in a confined space and in a potentiallyhazardous position, often the homeowner will employ a spring of greater length than that required or specified. Consequently, the weight of the door is not properly balanced against the stiffness of the spring and increased force is required both to open the door and to prevent the door from slamming (on being closed)an imposition on a small housewife of limited strength. Also, the slightest unbalancing force (such as a gust of wind upon the area of the door, when open) may cause the door to slam down and shut, constituting a hazard to property and person alike.

Even so-called professionally-installed garage door springs may not operate entirely satisfactorily due to the unbalance or inequality of the tension exerted by the spring on one end of the door, dragging on one side or the other as the door is opened or closed. Also, warping of the door may cause such dragging of the door against the door jamb. Thus, opening of the door will require application of additional physical effort.

Although a variety of springs are commercially available for selective in-garage-door installations, yet convenient, safe and low cost tools, for aiding the safe and convenient performance of such installation, do not appear to be readily available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION By means of the concept of the subject invention there is provided safe, efficient and low-cost means for installing garage door springs and for making compensating tension adjustments therein.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention there is provided a disconnectably assembled jack and lock combination, comprising a unidirectionally adjustable lock which includes a movable tongue having a longitudinal axis and a longitudinally restrained spring-loaded check means adapted to cooperate with the tongue for checking longitudinal motion thereof in one of two directions parallel to the longitudinal axis. There is also provided a jack having a rotably mounted pinion adapted to engage the tongue for preselected unidirectional translation thereof in a second one of said longitudinal directions in response to preselected undirectional rotation of the pinion and in opposition to the spring load.

The jack and lock are matingly keyed whereby they may be disconnectably engaged for cooperation, whereby an inexpensive installation of minimum size may be effected.

Also, the use of an adequate tongue arm in the operation of the pinion of the jack tends to substantially reduce the force and physical effort to be exerted in effecting an installation. Further, the removal jack may be separately utilized to adjust or balance the spring tension in a plurality of current installations adapted to the use of such jack.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention .to provide an improved jack and lock combination for the installation and adjustment of garage door springs and the like.

It is another object to provide a jack and lock combination that is inexpensive and simple to manufacture and convenient and safe to use.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the lock of the invention as installed in a typical garage door application.-

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a jack and lock combination, employing the lock of FIG. 1 and omitting the tongue of FIG. I.

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of the device of FIG. 2, showing the extraction of the tongue of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the jack and lock combination of the invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the device of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view in side elevation of the device of FIGS. 4 and 5 in cooperation with a chain as a tongue for the device, the chain secured to the lock, preparatory to removal of the jack;

FIG. 7 is a torn away view in elevation of the device of FIG. 6; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 are illustrations of a further embodiment of the invention.

In the figures, like reference characters refer to like path.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a view in perspective an aspect of the one embodiment of the device of the invention. There is illustrated a unidirectionally adjustable lock 10 interposed as a mechanical coupling between a set of anchoring chains 12 or the like and a spring load such as a set of garage door springs 13 in tension. Lock 10 is comprised of an apertured casing 11 (adapted to be coupled to chains 12 by means of S-shaped hooks 14) and a doubleratcheted tongue 15 (adapted to be coupled to springs 13 by means of a W-shaped hook l6 piercing the upper extremity of tongue 15). Where only a single spring is to be accommodated then an S-shaped hook may be employed rather than W-shaped hook l6.

Apertured case 11 may be comprised of two mating shells 11A and 118, as shown more particularly in FIG. 2, through which tongue 15 of FIG. 1 may be inserted. Longitudinally or vertically restrained and laterally spring loaded means 16 is installed within the shell or case formed by elements 11A and 11B of FIG. 2 and adapted to cooperate with tongue 15 for checking upwardly longitudinal motion thereof (as illustrated). In other words, element 16 is a simple ratchet adapted to matingly engage a first ratchet face of double ratcheted tongue 15 and is laterally spring loaded thereagainst by means of spring element 17, interposed in compression between ratchet 16 and the back of case 11A and 118 (in FIG. 2 shown as element 11 in FIG. 1.

Case 11, while restricting lateral motion of tongue 15 relative thereto (in FIG. 1), also exposes a second face 2150f double ratched tongue 15 for cooperation with a jack intended to be disconnectably assembled with lock for preselected unidirectional (downward) translation of tongue 15. Such assembly is facilitated by means of keyways 18A and 18B perpendicular to each of the longitudinal axis of tongue and the direction of the lateral spring load provided by spring 17 (in FIG. 2).

Such jack is shown assembled as assembly 19 in FIG. 3 and further disconnectably assembled with lock assembly 10. Jack 19 is shown more particularly in the exploded view of FIG. 2 (as well as FIG. 3) as having a rotatably mounted pinion 21 adapted to engage the second face of doubly ratcheted tongue 15 for preselected unidirectional translation thereof in the vertically downward direction in response to clockwise rotation of pinion 21 (as illustrated). Jack 19 also includes an apertured casing 20 comprising two mated shells 20A and 208, the mating line of shells 20A and 20B traversing those two apertures accommodating rotatable mounting of pinion 21. Shell 20B ofjack case 20 has two keys 21A and 21B matingly keyed to respective ones of keyways 18A and 18B of lock 11, the orientation of keys 21A and 218 being parallel to the axis of ration of pinion 21. Thus, lock 10 and jack- 19 may be conveniently cooperatively assembled and pinion 21 allowed to engage tongue 15 (as shown in FIG. 3) by aligning keys 21A and 218 with respective ones of keyways 18A and 18B and laterally moving lock 10 and jack 19 toward each other. Such assembly may be selectively secured against inadvertent disassembly by means of mutually aligned vertical apertures 22 and 23 in shell 20B and case 11 through which a securing pin 24 may be inserted.

' In ordinary operation of the assembled jack and lock, a wrench 25 applied to a face or shoulder ofjack casing 20 and another wrench 26 applied to a head 27 of an axial extremity of pinion 21 (in FIG. 3) allows the application of sufficient torque to overcome the tension of the springs 13 (in FIG. 1) in adjusting the position of tongue 15 relative to lock 10, to adjust the overall length of the mechanical coupling for springs 13. Removal of pin 24 from jack l9 and lock 10 then allows the disassembly and removal ofjack 19 (by sliding it in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of pinion 21), leaving lock 10 as an adjustable link of minimum bulk.

An alternate embodiment of the device of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 and which may be less expensive to manufacture is shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7 as employing a sprocket chain of discrete elements or links as the tongue which is provided by double ratcheted member 15 in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 4 there is illustrated a disconnectably assembled jack and lock combination adapted to selectively translate a sprocket chain and comprising a unidirectionally adjustable lock 10 comprising an apertured frame 33 having a longitudinal (vertical) axis and in which is mounted a spring loaded pawl 36 adapted to sequentially engage successive ones of the discrete elements or links of sprocket chain 115, as shown more particularly in the partially torn-away vertical section shown in FIG. 7 and in the exploded view of FIG. 5. Also shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7 is a U-bolt 34 adapted to cooperate with vertically spaced apertures 37A and 378 for safely securing of chain 1 15, as shown more particularly in FIG. 6.

Disconnectable jack 19 is comprised of two mutually parallel and apertured plates 30A and 30B, spaced apart by spacers 35A and 35B, and rotatably mounting pinion 21, adapted for sequentially engaging discrete links of chain (as shown more particularly in FIG. 7 The longitudinal dimension of spacers 35A and 35B correspond to the lateral dimension of that face of lock case 33 through which pawl 36 protrudes (in FIG. 5). Mutually spaced apertures 31A and 31B in jack plate 30A are aligned with like referenced apertures in plate 308 for cooperation with similarly spaced apertures 32A and 328 in lock 10 (in FIG. 5) as to allow securing of the jack and lock assemblyby means of a second U- bolt 39. Removal of U-bolt 33 allows disconnecting of jack 19 from the jack and lock assembly.

An additional safety device useful in securing chain 115 from against inadvertent slippage in the jack and lock assembly of FIG. 6 is the use ofa blocking pin 38 inserted through aligned holes 37 in lock 19 (when pinion 21 is rotated sufficiently to allow such complete insertion). Then, with the assembly and chain thus checked, the first U-bolt 34 may be inserted as illustrated, to secure chain 115 to frame 33. Upon such securing of chain 115, second U-bolt 39 may be slidably removed and lock 19 disconnected from the assembly.

An improvement over the device of FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7, and not employing the first U-bolt 34 and securing pin 38, is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Such alternate arrangement is intended to similarly cooperate with a chain-type tongue 115 and employ the jack 19 of FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7, while lock 10 includes a vertical face plate 111 secured to element 33 and spaced apart therefrom sufficiently only to restrain chain 115 in engagement with pawl 36. In other words, structure 111 engirdles elements 33 and 115 (as shown in FIG. 9), being secured to element 33, as to laterally restrain element 115, while pawl 36 checks vertically upward motion of chain 115 relative to element 33. Vertical downward motion (as illustrated) of chain 115 relative to element 33 is understood to be readily effected by means ofjack 19 (in FIG. 8).

Accordingly, there has been described inexpensive and efficient means for safely installing garage door springs and for safely adjusting the tension of installed springs. Removal of the disconnectable jack from the bination, comprising jack and lock assembly provides an installation of minimum bulk and size, and also allows temporary introduction of the jack in other installations as required for tension adjustments thereof, as to minimize the equipment necessary to effect and adjust a number of 5 installations.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of this invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

lclaim:

1. A disconnectably assembled jack and lock com- 5 a unidirectionally adjustable lock including movable tongue having a longitudinal axis, and longitudinally-restrained, spring-loaded means adapted to cooperate with said tongue for checking longitudinal motion thereof in one of two directions parallel to said longitudinal axis; and

a jack having a rotatably mounted pinion adapted to engage said tongue for preselected unidirectional translation thereof in a second of said longitudinal directions in response to preselected unidirectional rotation of said pinion and in opposition to said spring loading;

said jack and lock being matingly keyed laterally of said longitudinal axis and parallel to the axis of rotation of said pinion, whereby said jack and lock may be disconnectably engaged for cooperation.

2. The device of claim 1 in which there is further pro- 3. A disconnectably assembled jack and lock combination, comprising a unidirectionally adjustable lock including a movable double ratcheted tongue having a longitudinal axis,

a bidirectionally longitudinally-restrained, laterally spring-loaded single ratchet adapted to matingly engage a first ratchet face of said tongue for preventing longitudinal motion thereof in one of two directions parallel to said longitudinal axis; and

a jack having a rotatably mounted pinion adapted to engage a second ratchet face of said ratcheted tongue for preselected unidirectional translation thereof in a second of said directions in response to preselected unidirectional rotation of said pinion and in opposition to the lateral spring loading thereof,

said jack and lock being matingly keyed laterally of said longitudinal axis and parallel to the axis of rotation of said pinion, whereby said jack and lock 60 may be slidably disconnectably engaged for cooperation.

4. The device of claim 3 in which there is further provided a mutually axially-aligned, longitudinally extending aperture in each of said jack and lock and oriented substantially perpendicularly of said axis of rotation, whereby a securing pm may be selectively inserted to selectively prevent disconnection of said jack from said lock.

5. The device of claim 3 in which said jack is further comprised of an apertured casing for rotatably mounting both axial extremities of said rotatably mounted pinion, said casing being comprised of two mated shells, the mating line of said mated shells traversing those two apertures accommodating said rotatable mounting of said pinion.

6. The device of claim 3 in which said lock is further comprised of an apertured case, and axially spring-loaded means axially slidably traversing an aperture of said case and rigidly connected to said single ratchet and oriented mutually perpendicular to both said longitudinal axis of said tongue and said axis of rotation of said pinion, whereby said spring-loaded means and said single ratchet are longitudinally. restrained relative to said apertured case. 7. A disconnectably assembled jack and lock combination adapted to selectively translate a chain of preselected geometry and comprising a unidirectionally adjustable lock having a longitudinal axis and spring-loaded single pawl adapted to sequentially engage discrete elements of said chain for preventing longitudinal motion thereof in one of two directions parallel to said longitudinal axis; and a jack having a rotatably mounted pinion adapted to sequentially engage discrete elements of said chain for preselected unidirectional translation thereof in a second of said directions in response to preselected unidirectional rotation of said pinion and in opposition to the spring-loading thereof,

said jack and lock being matingly keyed laterally of said longitudinal axis and parallel to the axis of rotation of said pinion, whereby said jack and lock may be slidably disconnectably engaged for cooperation,

said lock being further adapted to securely receive a removable structural member transversely of said longitudinal axis and through an aperture of said chain for restricting motion of said chain relative to said lock.

8. The device of claim 7 in which said jack is further comprised of two mutually spaced parallel apertured plates forming a casing for rotatably mounting both axial extremities of said rotatably mounted pinion, said spacing of said plates of said casing accommodating said lock, said casing being adapted to be disconnectably fastened to said lock by a U-bolt fastener.

i l i 

1. A disconnectably assembled jack and lock combination, comprising a unidirectionally adjustable lock including movable tongue having a longitudinal axis, and longitudinally-restrained, spring-loaded means adapted to cooperate with said tongue for checking longitudinal motion thereof in one of two directions parallel to said longitudinal axis; and a jack having a rotatably mounted pinion adapted to engage said tongue for preselected unidirectional translation thereof in a second of said longitudinal directions in response to preselected unidirectional rotation of said pinion and in opposition to said spring loading; said jack and lock being matingly keyed laterally of said longitudinal axis and parallel to the axis of rotation of said pinion, whereby said jack and lock may be disconnectably engaged for cooperation.
 2. The device of claim 1 in which there is further provided a mutually axially-aligned, longitudinally extending aperture in each of said jack and lock and oriented substantially perpendicularly of said axis of rotation, whereby a securing pin may be selectively inserted to selectively prevent disconnection of said jack From said lock.
 3. A disconnectably assembled jack and lock combination, comprising a unidirectionally adjustable lock including a movable double ratcheted tongue having a longitudinal axis, a bidirectionally longitudinally-restrained, laterally spring-loaded single ratchet adapted to matingly engage a first ratchet face of said tongue for preventing longitudinal motion thereof in one of two directions parallel to said longitudinal axis; and a jack having a rotatably mounted pinion adapted to engage a second ratchet face of said ratcheted tongue for preselected unidirectional translation thereof in a second of said directions in response to preselected unidirectional rotation of said pinion and in opposition to the lateral spring loading thereof, said jack and lock being matingly keyed laterally of said longitudinal axis and parallel to the axis of rotation of said pinion, whereby said jack and lock may be slidably disconnectably engaged for cooperation.
 4. The device of claim 3 in which there is further provided a mutually axially-aligned, longitudinally extending aperture in each of said jack and lock and oriented substantially perpendicularly of said axis of rotation, whereby a securing pin may be selectively inserted to selectively prevent disconnection of said jack from said lock.
 5. The device of claim 3 in which said jack is further comprised of an apertured casing for rotatably mounting both axial extremities of said rotatably mounted pinion, said casing being comprised of two mated shells, the mating line of said mated shells traversing those two apertures accommodating said rotatable mounting of said pinion.
 6. The device of claim 3 in which said lock is further comprised of an apertured case, and axially spring-loaded means axially slidably traversing an aperture of said case and rigidly connected to said single ratchet and oriented mutually perpendicular to both said longitudinal axis of said tongue and said axis of rotation of said pinion, whereby said spring-loaded means and said single ratchet are longitudinally restrained relative to said apertured case.
 7. A disconnectably assembled jack and lock combination adapted to selectively translate a chain of preselected geometry and comprising a unidirectionally adjustable lock having a longitudinal axis and spring-loaded single pawl adapted to sequentially engage discrete elements of said chain for preventing longitudinal motion thereof in one of two directions parallel to said longitudinal axis; and a jack having a rotatably mounted pinion adapted to sequentially engage discrete elements of said chain for preselected unidirectional translation thereof in a second of said directions in response to preselected unidirectional rotation of said pinion and in opposition to the spring-loading thereof, said jack and lock being matingly keyed laterally of said longitudinal axis and parallel to the axis of rotation of said pinion, whereby said jack and lock may be slidably disconnectably engaged for cooperation, said lock being further adapted to securely receive a removable structural member transversely of said longitudinal axis and through an aperture of said chain for restricting motion of said chain relative to said lock.
 8. The device of claim 7 in which said jack is further comprised of two mutually spaced parallel apertured plates forming a casing for rotatably mounting both axial extremities of said rotatably mounted pinion, said spacing of said plates of said casing accommodating said lock, said casing being adapted to be disconnectably fastened to said lock by a U-bolt fastener. 